Container cover operating mechanism



F. MARASSO CONTAINER COVER OPERATING MECHANISM April 19% patented Apr. 1941 UNET I CONTAINER COVER OPERATING MECHA- NIS Fred Marasso, Joliet, Ill., assignor to Union Ma.-

chinery Company, Joliet, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 3, 1938Scrial No. 188,406

s claims. roi. 22o- 47) This invention relates to container cover operating mechanism and the subject matter thereof, is a continuation in part oli my application for patent on Combined dividers and rounders, Serial No. 150,566, led June 26, 1937, now Letters Patent No. 2,119,918.

In bakers machinery, such as dough dividers and combined dividers and rounders, a container or tanlr is employed for holding a batch of dough which is to be divided into small lumps of predetermined" size and weight, and with certain types of dividers, air pressure is applied to the dough in the tank to feed the dough to the dividing mechanism, and in such cases the container is provided with a closure or cover which must have an air tight joint with the container to prevent leakage of air. These covers are heavy and somewhat diiiicult to handle by hand.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of simple and Veasily manipulated mechanism ior'raising the cover above the container, whereby it may be swung to the` side oi' the container, and free access may be had to the open top thereof i'or the purpose `of placing a batch of Clough therein and for the purpose of cleaning the container.

Another object is the provision oi simple and easily manipulated cover locking mechanism,

whereby the cover may be locked down tight on the container against the leakage of air when the pressure is applied to the dough contained in the container Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of this speciiication and, with all of said objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken out of a container and cover, illustrating one form of the present cover operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof partly broken away and looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a fragmental plan of the cover illustrating a centering device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detail, vertical section taken at the joint between the container and cover.

tainer.

In the embodiment oi the invention illustrated,

the reference character 34 illustrates a container or tank for holding a biatch of dough, and 35 designates a cover or closure for the open top thereof. The lower end of the container is desirably in the form of a hopper 3l', to the open lower end ofV which is secured a ilaring collar 38 which surrounds the extreme lower end of the fhopper, `and in the form illustrated, the collar is formed with a bracket 39 supported upon a standard all, which in accordance with the disclosure of my said prior application, is secured to a platform I0 of the divider. The container may, however, be supported by any suitable bracket to adapt it to any particular machine. The lower end of the collar may make close contact with the rotating table l5 oi a divider or othermachine, or a feed pipe (not shown) may lead down from the collar to the divider table. An air supply pipe 36 leads from the upper end of the container to a source of air under pressure. `The cover operating mechanism will now be described:

As shown, the cover 35 is dome-shaped and is carried by upright rod t2, the upper end oi' which enters a socket in an arm 83, which is rigidly fastened to the top oi the cover, The rod extends down along the side of the container and is slidably held in lugs 8a, S5 that are secured to and project from the side of the con- A collar 85 fast on the rod E2 rests on the lug 25, and normally supports the rod thereon. A slight clearance between the top of the rod and the end of the socket, permits the cover to seat perfectly on the top of the container in the down position oi the rod. Bolted or otherwise fastened to said lugs is an upright slotted bar 3l, upon the lower end of which is fulcrumed a lever BB, having a handle im on its free end. Connecting the lever with the rod is a link 9U whereby the rod, and therewith the cover, may be raised or lowered. The connection between the upper end of the link and rod comprises a collar Sl on the rod, and a bolt 92 which extends through the upper end of the link, through the slot in the bar 8l and through the collar 9i and rod 82.

Normally the cover rests upon the container and the rod is supported by the lug t5. To uncover the container, the lever B8 is swung upward, thereby raising the link El] and rod 82 and therewith the arm 83 and cover 35. If desired, a stop 94 may be provided on the bar 8l in position to hold the lever in its raised position. When raised, the cover may be swung to one side of the container, whereby a batch of dough may be deposited into it from above. To close the cover, it is swung back over the container and the lever S3, lowered to its normal position. In order to center the cover on the container, a forked centering member 95 is fastened to the top of the container and a finger 96 is fastened to the-cover .in position to center the cover when the nger enters the notch of the forked centering member 95.

To lock the cover tightly on the container, simple locking means has been provided. As shown, the means comprises a series of radially disposed lock bolts 9'| which :are guided in lugs 98 that project down from the cover adjacent its margin. The lugs are tapered along their upper outer ends and engage with the under side of a correspondingly tapered ring 99 which is welded or otherwise fastened to the upper end of the lcontainer wall. The 'bolts are connected to a rotatable `disc |00 by links desirably comprising link members |0I pivotally connected with the disc by bolts |02 and threaded adjustment -rods |03, having right and left threads engaging the bolts 97 and link members IOI. The disc is rigidly secured to a stem |04 rotatively mounted in a hollow boss |05 formed on the cover. The stem protrudes from the upper side .of the cover and has a handle |06 fastened upon it, by means 0I which the stem and discs may be partially rotated to withdraw and project the bolts. A stop |01 is positioned on the cover to limit the throw of the handle in the locked position of the bolts, whereby the pivotal connection between the links and disc may be moved past the dead center to positively lock the bolts in .their :projected position.

To unlock the cover, the handle |06 is turned away from the stop, thereby turning the `disc and retracting the bolts from .their engagement withthe ring 99.

The lever 8S may .then be swung up, thereby raising the cover above the top of the container and it may then be swung upon the rod 82 to a position at one side of the container.

'Io prevent air leakage through the clearance space between the stem |04 and the boss |05, a

soft metal washer |08 is interposed between the boss "and disc. A gasket `on the underside of the cover engages with an upturned rim of the ring 99 and makes an air tight joint between the container and cover.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In container cover operating mechanism, the combination of a container, a cover therefor, a cover 'carrying arm, a vertically movable supporting rod, upon which the arm is swivelly carrled when the cover is in raised position, there being a limited amount of vertical movement of said rod with respect to the arm, whereby the cover may seat on the container, means to raise said rod and therewith the cover to raised position, and supporting means :carried by the container for supporting the cover raising means.

2. In container cover operating mechanism, the combination of a container, a cover Itherefor, a cover carrying arm, avertically movablenon-rotatable supporting rod upon which the arm is swivelly carried when the cover is in raised position, means, carried by the container, for guiding the -rod and supporting |the same in its lowered position, there being a limited amount of movement of said rod with respect to the arm, whereby the cover may seat on the container, and means for raising and lowering the rod and therewith the cover.

3. The combination of a container for containing dough and compressed air and having an annular top member, .a vertically movable and horizontally swingable cover arranged to rest upon and make a tight t with said top member, a cover carrying arm, a rod upon which the arm .and therewith the 4cover are swingably carried, said arm and rod having a limited amount of movement relative to each other in a vertical direction, whereby the cover may seat tightly on the top` member of the container, means to clamp the cover on the container, guide members for said rod mounted on the container, rod raising and lowering means and means to support #the rod in its lowermost position.

FRED MARASSO. 

